Pamlico August 2, 2012
Dale Hayes with a 23" speckled trout he hooked in the Neuse River on a live mud minnow. Photo courtesy of Minnesott Beach Bait and Tackle.
Gary, of Spec Fever Guide Service, reports that there’s still a solid speckled trout and flounder bite in the lower Neuse River, and the past week of lighter winds has made the fishing more pleasant. Plenty of puppy drum are feeding along the river shorelines and mixed in with the flounder and trout, but most are undersized. D.O.A. and Gulp soft plastics, fished either on light jigheads or under popping corks, will tempt bites from the specks, flounder, and puppies.
Big drum have shown up around the mouth of the Neuse, and anglers are finding schools busting bait on shoals in the area. Casting large soft plastics into the fray is producing plenty of action with the big reds. Anglers may also be able to tempt them to bite spoons or topwaters, but single-hooked lures seem to produce better hookups.
Tarpon have arrived in the lower Neuse River, and anglers have already hooked a few on large cut baits fished around depth changes.
Dave, of Knee Deep Custom Charters, reports that anglers are still enjoying solid speckled trout action in the lower Neuse River. Most are feeding tight to the grassy riverbanks and shoreline structure and D.O.A. Shrimp, MirrOlure MR17’s and other models, and live mud minnows are all attracting attention from the trout.
The big “old drum” are showing up in the lower Neuse River, with lucky anglers who find schools experiencing some fun light-tackle action. Soft plastic baits are tempting most of the bites from the bruiser reds, and the bait bite should be getting started very soon. Fishing cut baits on large, barbless circle hooks around shoals, oyster rocks, and depth changes in the lower Neuse and Pamlico Sound is the way to hook up with the big drum.
Donald, of Custom Marine Fabrication, reports that tarpon are moving back into the Neuse River after heading out to the sound a few weeks ago.
Kevin McLaughlin, of Raleigh, with a pair of flounder he hooked in a single cast while fishing the Pamlico River with Capt. Richard Andrews of Tar-Pam Guide Service.
Large “old” red drum are also taking up station at many of their usual haunts in the Neuse, and anglers have found a few schools feeding on the surface and hooked up on topwater plugs over the past week.
Speckled trout are feeding in the creeks off the main river, and anglers are fooling them to bite soft plastics and suspending hard baits like MirrOlure MR17’s.
There are still some striped bass feeding around New Bern, and anglers may be able to tempt them to bite topwater plugs or soft plastic baits around the bridges in the area.
Richard, of Tar-Pam Guide Service, reports that anglers are connecting with big numbers of flounder (25-75) and puppy drum (10-20) on trips in the Pamlico River right now. Most of the fish are undersized, but anglers are having catch and release fun with them on ultra-light gear.
Some striped bass and speckled trout are mixed in where anglers are finding slightly cooler water.
Gulp shrimp and live mud minnows and finger mullet are fooling all the Pamlico fish.
Richie, of East Side Bait and Tackle, reports that anglers are still finding action with speckled trout, small puppy drum, and flounder down towards the sound. Gulp and Lil’ Fishie soft baits are fooling all three.
Tarpon and large red drum are feeding around the mouth of the Neuse River. They typically start feeding around the Pamlico a few weeks later, so local anglers can look forward to action with both in August and September.
